Chapter 585 Going to the Military Camp for Mianmian
“A marriage alliance? What marriage alliance?” Madam Wu almost thought she had misheard. She put down her embroidery and looked up at Xiao Qing’er. “Mianmian is only so young. How can she be related to a marriage alliance?”
Xiao Qing'er strode over to Madam Wu's side and sat down with a worried expression. "Mother, it's true. My palace eunuchs were listening to what those officials from the previous dynasty said."
"They said that the Southern Barbarians proposed to make peace with Xuan Yue, but Xuan Yue had to send a princess to them for a marriage alliance. This princess had to be a blood relative of the Crown Prince, so isn't that Mianmian?"
Madam Wu looked surprised. "Is that really what they said?"
Xiao Qing'er nodded. "Yes, Mother. They also said that they would send Mianmian to the Southern Barbarians once she comes of age."
Madam Wu's expression gradually darkened. Zhou's Mianmian was still the daughter-in-law she had chosen. She had tried to arrange a marriage between her and Zhou's children several times before, but it had not been successful. Now, someone else had beaten her to it.
She turned her head to look at Xiao Qing'er, feeling indignant for her son.
Xiao Qing'er's anger intensified, and she clenched her hands tightly. "No, we absolutely cannot let Xiao Mianmian go."
Wu Niangzi walked to his side, patted his shoulder, and thought to herself that she was so mature at such a young age, and she didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. She was about to say something to comfort him.
Xiao Qing'er said earnestly, "The Southern Barbarian lands are very desolate. There's no food to be had there. Xiao Mianmian definitely won't like it there. No, we can't let her go there for a marriage alliance."
Madam Wu immediately swallowed the words she was about to say, withdrew her hand from his shoulder, and asked, "What did the Emperor of Xuan Yue Kingdom say? Did they agree?"
Xiao Qing'er shook her head, "I don't know yet, there's been no news from over there."
Madam Wu turned and walked to the desk. "Don't worry, I'll write a letter to your Aunt Wanchun and see what's going on."
Xiao Qing'er didn't respond, her eyes lowered as if deep in thought.
After a while, Madam Wu finished writing her letter. When she looked up, she found that Xiao Qing'er was gone.
"Qing'er, Qing'er." Madam Wu called out from the doorway, but found no trace of him.
Xiao Qing'er ran away from Lady Wu's palace and arrived at Wei Xun's palace.
Now that Wei Xun is the ruler, unlike before when he could be seen whenever he wanted, he now needs to have the eunuch announce his arrival in advance.
Today, Xiao Qing'er disregarded etiquette and strode into the palace.
Wei Xun was handling official business when he was startled by Xiao Qing'er's sudden intrusion. However, he did not scold him. He put down his pen and asked, "Qing'er, what brings you to see your father?"
Xiao Qing'er strode up to him, gave him a hasty bow, and replied, "Father, I want to go to the military camp."
"What are you going to the military camp for?" Wei Xun asked, frowning.
Although he had two sons with Madam Wu, he valued Xiao Qing'er the most.
They have always been grooming him to be the future ruler.
Xiao Qing'er said seriously, "I want to go to the military camp to train, I want to lead troops."
Upon hearing this, Wei Xun's expression gradually improved. He went to Xiao Qing'er's side and said gently, "Silly child, you will be the king in the future, and all the soldiers will obey your orders. Why do you need to go to the military camp yourself?"
Xiao Qing'er was very persistent, "Since he is the future king, he should naturally go to the military camp."
Wei Xun's face darkened again. Seeing that he couldn't reason with him, and thinking that he could still build up some loyal followers for him, he agreed, "Alright, but you have to start as a lowly soldier."
Xiao Qing'er quickly replied, "Yes, Father."
Wei Xun felt sorry for his son, but he couldn't persuade him otherwise. Although Wu Niangzi objected to this decision, Xiao Qing'er still went to the battlefield as she wished.
Ten days later, Wu Niangzi's letter was delivered to Du Wanchun, and Xiao Qing'er had already gone to the military camp.
Many years later, someone asked Wei Qing why he was so determined to join the army.
Wei Qing did not reply until later, when he had pacified the Southern Barbarians, his parents and Du Wanchun finally understood.
After receiving Wu Niangzi's letter, Du Wanchun replied to her, telling her about their refusal to negotiate peace with the Southern Barbarians.
After the letter was sent out, Zhou Ruiyuan came to her room and said, "Wanchun, Consort Li is leaving the palace today. Would you like to go and see her off?"
Du Wanchun was delighted to hear this, "Okay, I'll go right away."
Zhou Ruiyuan publicly announced that Consort Li died suddenly due to worry over the Emperor's serious illness, which was incurable. He also posthumously conferred upon her the title of Empress Huiyang and gave her a grand funeral.
What was buried was just a set of clothes that Consort Li wore when she first entered the palace.
The real Consort Li, having changed her name and surname, is dressed in the plain clothes of a peasant woman today, preparing to sneak out of the palace by carriage.
Upon hearing Zhou Ruiyuan's words, Du Wanchun went to the palace gate alone.
A simple carriage stood at the palace gate, and inside sat Consort Li.
Du Wanchun strode forward and got into the carriage.
Consort Li was overjoyed, "Wanchun, you've come."
Du Wanchun smiled and said, "I heard from Ruiyuan that you are leaving the palace, so I came here to see you off."
Consort Li was flattered and bowed her head, very grateful. "Wanchun, thank you and Your Highness."
Du Wanchun grasped her hand, "What are your plans after leaving the palace?"
Consort Li wiped her eyes and replied, "It's impossible to go back to the Tang family. I want to make a living with my own skills."
She has accumulated a considerable amount of wealth in the palace over the years, enough to live a comfortable life.
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